THE DARING BAKERS’ DECEMBER, 2012 CHALLENGE: PANETTONE

The December 2012 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by the talented Marcellina of Marcellina in Cucina. Marcellina challenged us to create our own custom Panettone, a traditional Italian holiday bread!

Yep, you read correctly.

That’s me!

I hosted the December 2012 Daring Bakers’ Challenge!

I was so thrilled to be asked to host this challenge and enjoyed the experience immensely. Here is the challenge as I presented it.

I joined DB in June 2009 to learn my about my favourite pastime – baking! Since then I have felt as though I have been learning at a patisserie school with some of the world’s best teachers. From macarons to croissants, puff pastry to bombe Alaska, I never know what each month will bring.

This month I am your host. I can’t believe it either! I’m not sure how qualified I am but this month I’m going to challenge you to make Panettone – a traditional Italian Christmas Bread.

I live in a little town in far northern Australia which is known as “Little Italy” due to its predominantly Italian heritage and culture. Being born of Italian parents in this very Italian town, Italian food was and still is, just part and parcel of my life. Every Christmas the commercially prepared panettone took pride of place on the table and was enjoyed with dipped into our Asti Spumante. Leftovers are eaten for breakfast with our morning coffee and I always buy an extra one to have on hand when visitors drop in.

So how was the Panettone born? Traditionally it is eaten by the Milanese but now it is available all through Italy and in many parts of the world. There are many stories and legends of the Panettone but the one recounted by Carol Field, whose recipe I have favoured, is that of a rich young Milanese noble who fell in love with the daughter of a poor baker whose name was Tony (Antonio). The nobleman wanted to marry the baker’s daughter so he ensured the baker had at his disposal the very best ingredients – eggs, butter, flour, candied orange peel, citron and sultanas. The baker created a wonderful bread which became known as pan di Tonio (Tony’s bread). The baker found his fame and fortune and the nobleman honorably married the baker’s daughter.

There are lots of different types of Panettone now available – some with chocolate or vanilla fillings or coated in chocolate but the traditional Panettone is my favourite. Traditionally, the Panettone is made with wild yeasts but I’m never very good with sourdough breads so even though I tried a traditional recipe I settled on this one with commercial active dry yeast. If you have had success with sourdough Panettone I would welcome your version. This recipe may seem a little complicate but let me assure you, taken over a two day period (resting in the refrigerator overnight) it is quite simple, only time consuming as all yeasted products are, but even then it’s inactive time waiting for the dough to rise. Also, not to worry if you don’t like dried or candied fruit, simply substitute with chocolate chips, nuts or some of the wonderful flavoured chips you lucky guys have in the US. Think about using dried date and walnuts or dried cranberries and white chocolate. Flavour it however you like – soak your fruit in rum or brandy. Mmmm.. what about coffee flavoured? Maybe certain types of candy might work. And then if you are like me, a Panettone fan, you will find that this recipe comes quite close to the commercial variety. Adding the Almond Glaze simply gives the Panettone another dimension and it really is very tasty.

I hope you enjoy the challenge of making your very own Panettone in the flavours custom made for you and your loved ones.

For me the hardest thing was to find traditional Panettone papers in my part of the world. I found them online at a New Zealand store but I know they are available at Amazon (P & P was exorbitant to Australia). Failing that an empty can, 6 inch (15 centimeter) diameter lined with paper works. Or a small 6 inch (15 centimeter) cake pan with paper lined card extending the rim would also be fine as would a charlotte mold or soufflé dish. I tried homemade panettone papers which were also quite successful if none of the above are suitable. *Note: See photo instruction in the “Additional Information” section below.

Mandatory Items: Make a panettone in the traditional tall cylindrical shape using the recipe provided with or without the almond glaze. It is optional to make your own candied orange peel.

Variations allowed: You can substitute the golden raisins, candied citron, candied orange peel, grated lemon and orange rind with other dried or candied fruits or nuts or chocolate, use different flavours or whatever you like. If you have a recipe you love using the traditional wild yeast it would be great if you could make that recipe and share it with us.

Preparation time:

Sponge
35 minutes

First Dough
mixing 15-20 minutes
rising time 1 -1 ¼ hours

Second dough
mixing 15-20 minutes
Rising time 2 ½ – 4 hours or overnight in a cool place

At this stage the dough will seem a little too soft, like cookie dough.

Turn it out and knead it on a well-floured surface until it sort of holds its shape. Don’t knead in too much flour but you may need as much as 2/3 cup (100 gm). Be careful the excess flour will affect the finished product.

By Mixer:

With the paddle mix in thoroughly the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, honey, vanilla, essences/extracts, and salt.

Mix in the butter until smooth.

3. Add the flour and slowly incorporate

4. At this stage the dough will seem a little too soft, like cookie dough.

5. Replace the paddle with the dough hook and knead for about 2 minutes.

6. Turn out the dough and knead it on a well-floured surface until it sort of holds its shape.

7.

7. Don’t knead in too much flour but you may need as much as 2/3 cup (100 gm). Be careful the excess flour will affect the finished product.

First Rise

Oil a large bowl lightly, plop in your dough and cover with plastic wrap

2. Now we need to let it rise until it has tripled in size. There are two ways to go about this.

Rise in a warm place for 2 – 4 hours

Or find a cool spot (64°F -68°F) (18°C – 20°C) and rise overnight

Or rise for 2 hours on your kitchen bench then slow the rise down and place in the refrigerator overnight. If you do this it will take some time to wake up the next morning but I preferred this method.

Filling and Final Rise:

Soak the raisin/sultanas in water 30 minutes before the end of the first rise. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.

2. Now take your dough and cut it in half. Remember we are making two panettoni

3. Combine all your filling ingredients and mix well

4. Press out one portion of dough into an oval shape

5. Sprinkle over one quarter of the filling and roll up the dough into a log

Press out again into an oval shape and sprinkle over another quarter of the filling

Roll into a log shape again.

Repeat with the second portion of dough

Shape each into a ball and slip into your prepared pans, panettone papers or homemade panettone papers.

10. Cut an X into the top of each panettone and allow to double in size.

11. Rising time will vary according to method of first rise. If it has been in the refrigerator it could take 4 hours or more. If it has been rising on the kitchen bench in a warm place it should be doubled in about 2 hours.

Baking

When you think your dough has only about 30 minutes left to rise preheat your oven to moderately hot 400°F/200°C/gas mark 6 and adjust your oven racks

Just before baking carefully (don’t deflate it!) cut the X into the dough again and place in a knob (a nut) of butter.

3. Place your panettoni in the oven and bake for 10 minutes
4. Reduce the heat to moderate 350°F/180°C/gas mark 4 and bake for another 10 minutes

5. Reduce the heat again to moderate 325°F/160°C/gas mark 3 and bake for 30 minutes until the tops are well browned and a skewer inserted into the panettone comes out clean.

6. Cooling your panettone is also important. If you have use papers (commercial or homemade) lie your panettoni on their side cushioned with rolled up towels. Turn gently as they cool. If you have used pans cool in the pans for 30 minutes then remove and cushion with towels as above.

7. Panettone can also be cooled suspended. How to do this? Firstly you need to use papers (commercial or homemade), insert clean knitting needles into the bottom of the panettone in a X shape. Flip over and support the knitting needles on the edges of a large saucepan with the panettone suspended within the saucepan. Yep, a lot of trouble and I didn’t really find that much difference – maybe I took too long to insert the needles.

During the final rise, prepare the almond glaze. Process almond, confectioners’ sugar and flour until the nuts are finely chopped and well blended. Mix in the egg whites, oil and essence. Process to combine. It is meant to be thick and glue like. All is well! When the panettoni are well risen carefully spread half the mixture over the top. Don’t worry about spreading it to the edges, in fact keep well away from the edges because the glaze will melt and spread. Bake as per the panettone recipe above.

Remove the flesh with a sharp knife and reserve for another use (or just munch on it)

4. Put the peels in a large saucepan and cover with water

5. Cook slowly over gently heat until the peels are tender – about ¾ hour to 1 hour

6. Drain and cover with fresh water. Sit for an hour or up to overnight. Drain

7. Into another large saucepan pour 2 cups of water. Mix in the sugar and the corn syrup.

8. Bring mixture to boil then add peels. Partially cover the pan.

9. Reduce heat to very low and using a candy thermometer adjust the temperature so that (212°F to 222°F) 100°C to 105°C is maintained. You may need to add extra water – I didn’t

10. After 2 hours has passed remove the lid and rise the temperature to (235°F) 110°C so that it boils and the water evaporates

11. Turn off the heat and wait until the bubbles subside

12. Scoop out the peels with a slotted spoon and place on a rack to cool and dry.

13. After a couple of hours the peels are ready to roll in sugar and store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. These will keep well for a few months in the bottom of your fridge.

Freezing/Storage Instructions/Tips: Once your panettone is thoroughly cooled, place in a large plastic bag or container and it will keep quite well maybe for a week. At first the panettone is soft and tender but after a day or two it becomes dry like the commercial variety. I found that the glaze kept the panettone a bit more moist. I didn’t freeze mine but I have frozen the commercial variety for a month or two.

How to make homemade Panettone papers:

Cut 6 long strips on baking parchment and arrange in a star pattern on a baking parchment lined oven tray. Staple the middle.

Place the Panettone dough in the middle

Wrap strips around the dough.

Make a collar out of baking parchment using a cake pan or saucepan to give the shape and staple in place.

Remove the collar from the cake pan and slip over the dough. Attach the strips of paper which cover the dough to the collar with staples.
Bake as directed without removing from the oven tray.
Looks rough but it works. Takes a bit of fiddling.

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35 Comments

Thanks for this challenge Marcellina. I had never made a panettone before. This was far superior to any commercial version, and made me decide I do like panettone after all. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, and best wishes for the New. Year.

Your panettone looks fab and I like the way you have included so many pictures of the process. I keep meaning to make Panettone, and I really shall have to give it a go now. I'm also going to investigate the Daring Bakers. Thank you for a great post.

The stars were aligned for this Panettone, as I had planned to make one and then you announced it as this month's challenge! 🙂Thanks for picking a great festive to bread to make and being a lovely host.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU so much for this amazing challenge! I loved it so much, and you were a truly amazing hostess – the challenge was beautifully presented, amazingly thorough and so wonderfully followed through!! I know I will be making this every holiday season!!

Marcellina, you rock! And so did this challenge. I've been meaning to make panettone for years, so it was great to finally have the chance. I can't wait to make it again next year with all the tips and tricks I learned this year 🙂 Happy Holidays!

Thank you for such a wonderful challenge MArcella, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge u gave us this month! The recipe is fabulous ( I know as this is better than my last one!), u inspired me again to reconcile with panettone baking:-)

What a great challenge you put up Marcellina – my sincere apologies for not participating in the challenge – December just got away on me with one thing and another, relocating our work office, sick elderly mother-in-law, family arriving home from Australia for Christmas etc. But this is something I've always wanted to make and can see myself having a quiet little bake sometime in the new year when things have settled down. Thanks for the challenge , I've enjoyed the wonderful photos and Happy New Year from Auckland New Zealand 🙂

Oh Marcellina, Your panettone is absolutely gorgeous! I have never made one, and I sure wish I had participated last month! You picked a great challenge! I need to get back into the Daring Bakers; I sure loved it, but have slacked off for a long time. Sorry I missed YOUR challenge!

Just made this yesterday, loved it! I have Carol Field's book from 1985 and had decided to make the recipe and looked for some posts on tips for techniques. I saw your Almond Glaze and decided it might be good. Wow it was the perfect addition. Thanks for posting.

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